Upananda Brahmachari | HENB | Varanasi | May 12, 2017:: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that India’s flag carrier Air India would begin direct flights between Colombo and the holy city of Varanasi from August.

Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, made the announcement of the beginning of the flights during his address at the inauguration of the International Vesak Day, the biggest festival of Buddhists.

He said the flights will allow “my Tamil brothers and sisters” to visit Varanasi, the land of Kashi Viswanath.

Sri Lankan Hindus welcome the Shiv Sena for the Indian Prime Minister’s announcement of aeronautical service from Colombo to Vasanisi (Varanasi) to facilitate the Eelam Tamils ​​tradition

Sri Lankan Hindus have a close connection Yamuna Lake, which is a testimony to the Sangili Gate in Nallur. Yamini Lake is a lake that was built by the Aryan Emperors from Yamuna.

Kasiwasi Senthinathiyar is the name of the great sage who was born in Kurunegasi and lived in Kashi and Tamil regions in ancient Bharatvarsh.

Age old Tamil tradition adheres usual Hindu-Tamil way to calculate the time when one dies. After his death, though the bodyis cremated (antyesthi) in fire, the remains in ash (asthi) are kept securely to submerge in the river Ganga in Kashi or to be drowned in theconfluence of Yamunu, Ganga and Saraswati.

The Sri Lanka Shiva Sena Chief Maravanpulavu K. Sachithananthan conveys HENB about the pleasure and satisfaction of the Tamil-Hindu people of Sri Lanaka for the Colombo-Varanasi direct air link as declared by PMOI Modi.

Varanasi is the land of Kashi Viswanath and the own parliamentary constituency of PM Modi.

At a distance of 10 kilometres from Varanasi, lies Sarnath, one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage centres.

It is believed that after attaining the enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, it was in Sarnath that Lord Buddha preached his first sermon, sanctified as Maha Dharm Chakra Parivartan.

The direct flights to Varanasi will aid pilgrims both Hindus and Buddhists from Sri Lanka.

The direct flights will aid pilgrims both Hindus and Buddhists from Sri Lanka, to visit Varanasi and Sarnath.

Today Modi visited Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple in Kandy, where the holy dental remains of Lord Buddha is kept. Earlier today IOT leaders met Modi at Norwood. PM Narendra Modi was honoured to participate in the International Vesak Day celebrations and gave his inaugural speech for the International Vesak Day in Sri Lanka.